Echoes of the Past

They look down at the flower crown in their hands in wonder, then looks back up to the robot.

Echo places the crown on top of their head with their tail waggling with joy! Yippie!

The whole "Echo has a soul/will" despite being made as a weapon first and foremost was seen as a design flaw by their creators, stemming from copying Geralds work a bit too thoroughly. The researchers would attempt to "correct" this through major conditioning/programming (which I'll get more into in another post) that, while has been successful for the most part, wasn't completed in time before the whole project was ceased. Leaving an almost constantly confused Echo struggling to find a sense of self with constantly contradictory views. Volatile and malleable.

Yeah that might as well happen. Hands plant on the side of Shadow's hips, an eyebrow quirking in amusement at the little rat tumbling over their own two feet. If he hadn't been in pain before, he probably is now. Although that comment is definitely of interest to Shadow; he knows of Echo's pains and aches, so the fact that she isn't hurting in the presence of the Master Emerald surely means something. Good. He can work with this. He hates to imagine Echo constantly in pain. Maria was like that too; some days were simply better than others.

But now Shadow is different. Now he can help. He hadn't been able to on the ARK.

The hedgehog crosses over to Echo and gently helps her up, hands light and gentle, then he withdraws them--he doesn't want to overstep and make Echo feel like they can't do anything either--something he knew Maria occasionally felt as well with the way people fussed over her condition. "Nice fall," he comments in his own joking way, light and teasing, although still quite blase since it's Shadow saying it.

He's about to say something else when a familiar voice calls out behind them. "Oh this is going to be good."

A half-turn to acknowledge the echidna. "...Knuckles." Great.

Echo's ears twitched and rotated at a new voice, their head followed with a tilt all while taking note in Shadow's words, "Hm?"

Oh, a new person. And he seemed as angry as he was red. Why was he bringing up G.U.N.? They weren't with them! Echo leans to get a better view, looking over to the new red stranger, and gives him a small unassuming wave.

Shadow offers a small salute-like wave with the hand not pushing underbrush aside when Echo says hi as a hi of his own. And repeat: "You zoned out." It doesn't take him long to figure out the rest from their words and body language and the fact that they are here--their cravings for Chaos Energy, the body on autopilot, the pains of their little body trying to adapt to a power forced upon a being someone was trying to force into becoming the Ultimate. "I see." He glances over his shoulder at the shrine grounds, familiar emerald sheen bouncing off of broken pillars and turning the greenery viridescent in its soft lull. He likes it here too.

It's nice, this is nice.

Echo stretches their arms and yawns, "Nah, I don't think I am right now...?" much to their own confusion, and sluggishly they stand onto their feet.

"is okay, I can walk up there on m' own..." They wave off the hedgehog in their lackadaisical state, proceeding to walk over to the steps where the shrine held the source of what felt like their sleepwalking.

...Until Echo trips over their feet. Fumbling onto the stone ground face first.

The craving for Chaos Energy to sustain their being felt insatiable most times, they could never understand or figure out why but they had their suspicions were swept under the rug as soon as they arrived. For now, they relish in the relief the island supposedly brings them, curled up and taking a rest.

It wasn't until Shadow rustled the leaves that Echo's ear twitched, sluggishly opening an eye to see the familiar face.

"Mm?", Echo hums registering who the figure is, "Oh. Hi, Shadow." They react with a small smile and sit up. Their head tilted to the left somewhat in a struggle to wake up and answer his queries.